Rafael Benitez believes an in-form Steven Gerrard could be the key to Liverpool producing a famous Champions League win at Chelsea.
The skipper was an unused substitute in Saturday's clash against Blackburn and the Spaniard is hoping a fresh Gerrard can inspire his side as the Reds look to overturn a 3-1 deficit.
"He is better but he is still working with the physios," the boss told a pre-match press conference at Melwood. "He will have one more day of training and then after we will see how he feels.
"It makes a difference if we play with him. Clearly we need him, he is a key player for us. Everything can change if he can play and if he plays well.
"We will talk with the doctor and with him before the game. It is not a massive risk but there is a small one because you could lose the player for 10-15 days and that would be bad. He was playing with some problems before though, so I think we can manage."
Liverpool need to score three goals at Stamford Bridge to have any chance of progressing to the last four of the competition. Asked if his side could call upon the inspiration of Istanbul, Benitez said, "It would be good and could be helpful.
"If we have the fans behind us and can give them something from the beginning, then it would be a very good inspiration.
"You approach the games away thinking about winning. In this case, if it is possible, we need to score an early goal and then we will play with more confidence.
"It's not a question of the managers, the players on the pitch can make a massive difference. Okay, we will try to help but clearly it will be the players. If we win it will be them, if we lose it will be us all together."
After conceding two set pieces against Chelsea in the first-leg Liverpool's use of zonal marking has come under great scrutiny.
However, Benitez insists it is still the best system for his side to use.
"They (Chelsea) have six or seven players that are really good in air, and that was clear the other day," he said.
"We talked about zonal marking but we scored against Blackburn who use man-to-man marking and yesterday you could see goals conceded between Aston Villa and Everton using man-to-man.
"So in the end it depends on the quality of the players in the air.
"It has been good for us in the past so hopefully it (zonal) will be good in the future."
Asked if the Reds could take heart from Bolton's three-goal salvo against Chelsea at the weekend, the boss added: "Yes. If you play well and have a bit of luck, you can score a goal, so we will see. It will be good for the club if we can win, so we will try to win."
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163991090413-1018.htm
"He is better but he is still working with the physios," the boss told a pre-match press conference at Melwood. "He will have one more day of training and then after we will see how he feels.
"It makes a difference if we play with him. Clearly we need him, he is a key player for us. Everything can change if he can play and if he plays well.
"We will talk with the doctor and with him before the game. It is not a massive risk but there is a small one because you could lose the player for 10-15 days and that would be bad. He was playing with some problems before though, so I think we can manage."
Liverpool need to score three goals at Stamford Bridge to have any chance of progressing to the last four of the competition. Asked if his side could call upon the inspiration of Istanbul, Benitez said, "It would be good and could be helpful.
"If we have the fans behind us and can give them something from the beginning, then it would be a very good inspiration.
"You approach the games away thinking about winning. In this case, if it is possible, we need to score an early goal and then we will play with more confidence.
"It's not a question of the managers, the players on the pitch can make a massive difference. Okay, we will try to help but clearly it will be the players. If we win it will be them, if we lose it will be us all together."
After conceding two set pieces against Chelsea in the first-leg Liverpool's use of zonal marking has come under great scrutiny.
However, Benitez insists it is still the best system for his side to use.
"They (Chelsea) have six or seven players that are really good in air, and that was clear the other day," he said.
"We talked about zonal marking but we scored against Blackburn who use man-to-man marking and yesterday you could see goals conceded between Aston Villa and Everton using man-to-man.
"So in the end it depends on the quality of the players in the air.
"It has been good for us in the past so hopefully it (zonal) will be good in the future."
Asked if the Reds could take heart from Bolton's three-goal salvo against Chelsea at the weekend, the boss added: "Yes. If you play well and have a bit of luck, you can score a goal, so we will see. It will be good for the club if we can win, so we will try to win."
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163991090413-1018.htm
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